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Putin issue respects for Total chairman, de Margerie

Total chief de Margerie killed in Russian plane crash.

By Daniel J. Graeber

MOSCOW, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a statement to the French government to offer his condolences over the death of Total chief Christophe de Margerie. De Margerie, the chief executive of French oil company Total, died when a Falcon 50 business jet crashed after it hit a snow removal vehicle while taking off from a Moscow airport. Three other crew members, all French citizens, also died.

Russian authorities said the driver of the vehicle was drunk.

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Putin sent a letter Tuesday to French President Francois Hollande to offer his respects.

"Please convey my sincerest condolences and sympathy to the family and friends of Christophe de Margerie - a prominent French businessman who pioneered many of the major joint projects, which laid the foundation for many years of fruitful cooperation between France and Russia in the energy sector," the letter read.

Total is working alongside Russian gas producer Novatek at the Yamal liquefied natural gas project in Russia, among others.

Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the Russian president had a close working relationship with 63-year-old de Margerie.

The French supermajor confirmed de Margerie's death in a Tuesday statement.

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